as hundreds of mostly irish women protested a death they say could have been stopped this woman from india, savita halappanavar, recently seen here, marking a hindu festival and expecting their first child. she was 17 weeks pregnant in late october, when she came to the hospital here complaining of severe pain. when doctors told her she would miscarry her child, they pled for an abortion, but were refused because the fetus still had a heartbeat, this is a catholic country, they were told. in fact, ireland is less of a catholic country. as immigrants like savita change the country days later, she died. he described their last desperate moments. >> they were trying to pump her heart, the doctor just told me we lost her. >> reporter: her death has started up a heated debate on abortion in ireland where decades of confusing laws say abortion is illegal, unless the mother's life is in danger. but the government never offered guidance on the specific risks that leave a life in danger, leaving doctors afraid to perform such surgeries. even in extreme cases, like savita's >> we have lived with thi